Escaping the Mental Health Stigma with USC
A nationwide study of Canadian students utilizing mental health services on campuses reported 95% of students expressed feelings of exhaustion, 83.7% experienced anxiety, 86% indicated feelings of depression, and 81% reported instances of loneliness. In a world where the nuances of mental health are often overlooked, the USC is gearing up to host an event that transcends the conventional boundaries of awareness. On March 20th, 2024, from 11 AM to 4 PM, the USC will present “Escaping Mental Health Stigma,” an immersive experience designed to champion holistic mental wellness and spotlight the council’s renewed mental health policy paper.
Navigating the Maze: A Unique Escape Room Experience
The event takes on an escape-room-esque format, offering students a journey through the intricate dimensions of mental wellness: Mental, Emotional, Social, and Psychological. Drawing parallels between the challenges of solving puzzles and the complexities of mental health, the event aims to reinforce the idea that, like puzzles, some struggles can be tackled independently, while others require collaboration and support.
Puzzling Beginnings: Unveiling the Facets of Holistic Wellbeing
The journey kicks off with an introduction activity—a word scramble that unravels the facets of holistic wellbeing. Drawing inspiration from the seven dimensions of wellness, participants will engage in a stimulating exercise of unscrambling letters to reveal vital components such as Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Social, Spiritual, Environmental, and Occupational.
Mental Dimension: Constructing Positive Self-Talk and Thinking
Moving into the Mental Dimension, the event spotlights the profound impact of our thoughts on our mood and mental state. Through a visual puzzle activity, students will piece together affirmations, fostering positive self-talk and encouraging a kinder inner dialogue. This activity underscores the importance of training ourselves to think positively.
Emotional Dimension: Decoding the Language of Emotions
The Emotional Dimension recognizes the universality of emotions and the need to develop coping skills for their effective management. In a unique decode-the-message activity, students will decipher coded messages, each representing a specific emotion. This interactive exercise promotes emotional intelligence and effective communication of feelings.
Social Dimension: Mental Health Resources and Connections
Social connections play a pivotal role in mental wellness. We need healthy relationships and meaningful connections with people to reach a state of happiness. To emphasize the importance of human connection and a personal network, the Social Dimension incorporates a trivia game that delves into mental health resources on campus and facts about building meaningful connections.
Psychological Dimension: Spotting the Differences and Riddles
The Psychological Dimension encompasses logical thinking, overall psychological wellness, rational thinking, and coping abilities. Through activities such as “Spot the Difference” and thought-provoking riddles, participants will learn about self-care strategies.
Milestones and Rewards: Breaking Chains, One Puzzle at a Time
As participants navigate through the six puzzles, they achieve milestones that unlock a series of rewards. At two puzzles solved, participants earn candy and a raffle ticket. Upon completing four puzzles, a USC stickerand another raffle ticket await. Those who conquer all six puzzles will receive vouchers from The Spoke along with their final raffle ticket.
Shaping Narratives for Student Advocacy
The USC’s dedication to mental health advocacy is not merely an event—it’s a movement, breaking the chains of stigma and promoting a culture of holistic wellbeing. The renewed mental health policy paper has scored a win, with the USC’s University Affairs portfolio being added to Western’s Mental Health Strategic Plan action team to ensure students’ voices are advocated for and heard.
The mental health policy paper emphasizes the aftermath of the pandemic on students, evaluates current standards and services, suggests implementation of dedicated mental health support for athletes, encourages increased allocated funding for mental health dedicated to post-secondary students, and calls for improvement to standards of available resources.
In a world where mental health is often misunderstood or ignored, we want to pioneer initiatives that resonate with the student body. “Escaping Mental Health Stigma (with USC)” is not just an event; it’s a stepping stone to foster an environment at Western where mental wellbeing is championed and celebrated.
Join us on March 20th as we embark on a collective journey towards understanding, empathy, and holistic wellbeing. Together, let’s decode the language of mental health, celebrate our triumphs, and break free from the mental barriers that hold us back.
